Kingston, Friends of the Avenue Projects

Drawing Sandy's Raffle - 25 April 2015

"Sandy - The Waler Rocking Horse" raffle was draw on ANZAC Day following the Creswick Lighthorse Parade.The winner was Annie Sallai from Clunes

17 March 2015

Meet Sandy, the Australian Waler Rocking Horse“Sandy” is being raffled by Kingston, Friends of the Avenue. All proceeds go towards the preservation of the Avenue, planted in 1918 commemorating the service of men and women from the former Creswick Shire.

A friend has hand crafted a rocking horse in the image of and with great respect to the Australian waler. 136,000 horses were transported to the First World War. The rocking horse is called “Sandy” because “Sandy” was the only waler, Light Horse, War Horse to be returned to Australia. If you are interested in learning more go to https://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/horses/sandy.

“Sandy” is kitted out with a hand made saddle, bridle, and swag and wears the colours of the 9th/19 Battalion World War 1. Many locals were recruited into this Battalion. “Sandy” will be out and about in the coming weeks. Tickets are only $2. The winning ticket will now be drawn in Creswick on ANZAC Day after the Light Horse Parade at approx 2:30 - 3pm. Tickets are available at various outlets, including the Creswick Information Centre, Creswick Pharmacy, Horse Land Ballarat and the Smeaton Hotel. He will make an appearance at the March and April markets in Creswick.

Thank you to all those who have purchased tickets already and made donations. If you are interested in assisting please contact Brian and Josie Reasons ph 53 451512.

November 2014Family StoriesError in the October Edition - Please note that Adele and Ally Lockhart are the great, great, great grand nieces of Sister Ella Madoline “Tot” Redman. “Tot” served at Lemnos and the Somme. She never married after safely returning from the Great War.

On the 4th of October Kath Davison a niece of Lance Corporal Harry Cecil Rickard supported by her daughter Ann Gleeson and son in law Brian, planted a replacement tree in his honour. The site was prepared by diligent, hard working volunteers at the March working bee. The established English elm was provided by the Shire and will be maintained by the family. Harry Rickard from Kingston worked at the Butcher’s shop. On February 1915 at the age of 20 he enlisted in the 9th Light Horse Regiment AIF and reached the rank of Lance Corporal. He was killed in action at Gallipoli on September 3rd, 1915. Brothers Clarence and Roy enlisted in 1916. Clarence died of wounds in France and Roy returned to Australia at the end of the war but died soon after.

The Kingston Agricultural Show, Sunday 30th NovemberPlease bring your stories and come and see our display.Rex Brereton has kindly made available an aerial photograph for sale. Orders will be taken on the day. A BBQ will be held late afternoon with half the proceeds going toward the Avenue.Tickets are $10. If you would like to attend please contact us.Fund RaisingA beautifully framed Limited Edition print of the Battle of Gallipoli has been made available to Kingston, Friends of the Avenue to blind auction. If you are interested in making a bid on this splendid presentation, please look out for Peter and Barry at various local markets. The winner will be announced before Christmas.

Cards of the Avenue are now selling at The Creswick Information Centre. The colourful aerial photograph of the Avenue and part of the township, was taken by Alan Hives in 1999.GrantsWe would like to thank Creswick Financial Services of the Creswick and District Community Bank and the Management Committee of the Kingston Community Recreation Centre for their generous donations - $1,000 and $5,000 respectively. If you are interested in donating or have any fund raining ideas please contact us.Heritage Victoria The Kingston Avenue is one of four Victorian Avenue of Honour to be nominated for listing with Heritage Victoria. The Avenue is currently on the Significant Trees Register. We are awaiting news of our success.Secretary Sue Scott at: kingstonfoa@gmail.com or 388 Kingston Road, Kingston Vic 3364, Phone: 0418 675 196 or Brian and Josie Reasons ph 53 451512

October 2014On Wednesday morning, the 1st of October, a group of descendants assembled with representatives of Friends of the Avenue, to acknowledge the service of the seven nurses commemorated in the Avenue.

The trees are on the West side. The names and numbers are :37 Sister A Brawn, 38 Sister E Brawn, 39 Sister E Beasley, 40 Sister LE White, 41 Sister R McKinnon, 42 Sister EM McKinnon, 43 Sister EM Redman. If you take a drive out to Kingston these trees are easy to spot.

Red bows, made by Julie Lindsay, were placed on the trees by family representatives - Montana, Peyton and Nikiaya McMillan, great, great, great grand nieces of Annie and Edith Brawn; Adele and Ally Lockhart great, great, great grand nieces of “Tot” Redman and representatives of the McKinnon family.

Margaret Fullwood and her team at the Creswick Museum now have information about all seven nurses. Take the opportunity to find out more about their service and that of other local women, at home and abroad, by attending the current "Behind the Kit Bag" Exhibition. It also features memorabilia associated with the 100 year anniversary of the formation of Red Cross. The Museum is open 11 - 3.30, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays.If your family is connected to the Avenue and/or has a farming history, you have the opportunity to share or submit your family’s story for safe keeping at the Annual Kingston Show, Sunday, November 30th, 2014. This year's theme is Farming Families. Ring Peter Wheeler on 0490114279 for further information. Please come and visit us at our Information Table. We hope to gain and share information about the families and people associated with the Avenue both past and present. The National Archives is an invaluable resource to trace your ancestor’s service history www.naa.gov.au. We may be able to offer assistance in this area since a number of stories have been shared with us since 1999. Are you wondering if your family connected to the Avenue? Are you are interested in finding out more? Are you interested in helping? Are you able to assist with fund raising? Are you able to donate? Do you have time to undertake research? Please contact : Secretary Sue Scott at: kingstonfoa@gmail.com or 388 Kingston Road, Kingston Vic 3364Phone: 0418 675 196

August 2014The Committee is endeavouring to contact all families with a connection to the Kingston Avenue of Honour. Plans are underway for a special Remembrance Day Service and Commemorative event to be held in the Avenue on November 11th, 2018. In 2018 it will be 100 years since the Avenue was established to commemorate the First World War service of men and women from the former Shire of Creswick. Many descendants of those service men and women live in our community today. If your family is connected to the Avenue and with a farming history, we invite you to embrace the Kingston Show’s 2014 theme “Farming Families”. This is an opportunity to document and share your family story. The National Archives is an invaluable resource to trace your ancestor’s service history www.naa.gov.au. We may be able to offer assistance in this area since a number of stories have been shared with us since 1999. These are being collated and will be archived in the Creswick Museum Research Centre.

Is your family connected to the Avenue? Are you are interested in finding out more? Are you interested in helping? Are you able to assist with fund raising? Do you have time to undertake research? Please contact : Secretary Sue Scott at: kingstonfoa@gmail.com or 388 Kingston Road, Kingston Vic 3364 Phone: 0418 675 196 In the future, there will be information available at other locations such as the Creswick Information Centre, the Creswick Museum Research Centre, the Creswick - Smeaton RSL’s website at creswicksmeatonrsl.org.au, The Kingston Agricultural Society website and our own website. Calendar DatesSaturday and Sunday until the end of 2014 - “Behind the Kit Bag” exhibition at the Creswick Museum.The focus is the role of women from the District who served in the Great War. There are seven trees on the west side of the Avenue commemorating the service of women. Tree numbers are :37 Sister A Brawn, 38 Sister E Brawn, 39 Sister E Beasley, 40 Sister LE White, 41 Sister R McKinnon, 42 Sister EM McKinnon, 43 Sister EM RedmanJosie’s Asian Luncheon fund raiser has been postponed until next year.

Sunday, November 29th 2014 - The Annual Kingston Show. We invite all to visit us at our Information Stand where we hope to gain and share information about the families and people associated with the Avenue past and present. Sunday, November 11th 2018 - Special Remembrance Day Service and Commemoration of the Centenary of planting of the Avenue.

March 2014

Do travellers through Kingston ponder the origin of the magnificent elm trees? The two hundred and eighty six trees, planted in 1918 by the families of men and women from the Shire of Creswick, commemorate the service of their loved ones in the Great War. The Avenue of Honour, stretching four kilometres, is one of the most intact Avenues in Australia and is listed on the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) Register of Significant Trees. Over the next four years we will learn more about the Avenue till its Centenary in 2018.

Friends of the Avenue - Kingston first formed in 1999 as a sub-committee of the then Kingston Community Recreation Centre. It is now an Incorporated Association know as Kingston, Friends of the Avenue with its statement of purpose, "to ensure that the former Shire of Creswick Avenue of Honour, it trees and its history, is maintained and preserved".

Sixty people attended a picnic at Kingston Show Grounds on Sunday 9 February where they were informed of our purposes including a Working Bee to be held on Sunday 23 March. Neil, Adam, Judy Turner and the Seven Hills Singers provided entertainment. The raffle was sponsored by Newlyn Antiques and Cottage Garden Nursery. David O'Brien MLC and Mayor of Hepburn Shire, Councillor Don Henderson were Guest Speakers.

Kingston, Friends of the Avenue is working closely with representatives from Hepburn Shire and other stakeholders to prepare submissions to local, State and Federal Governments under the Centenary of ANZAC Local Community Grants Program. Years of drought, and ageing of trees has resulted in the need for urgent specialist arboreal work and strategic management. The focus this year is applying for funding to attend to the health of the trees.

Ode of Remembrance

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow oldAge shall not weary them, nor the years condemnAt the going down of the sun and in the morningWe will remember them